Gone Hikin': Long Path and Highlands Trail, NY - Gonzaga Park to Schunemunk Mountain State Park

Sunday, August 30, 2020

Long Path and Highlands Trail, NY - Gonzaga Park to Schunemunk Mountain State Park

ABOUT THE PARKS:
Long Path Section 8 - NYNJ Trail Conference
Highlands Trail - NYNJ Trail Conference
Gonzaga Park - Orange County Parks
Schunemunk Mountain State Park - New York State Parks

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 41.357325, -74.175354

Gonzaga Park Parking Lot

TRAIL MAPS:
West Hudson Trails Map 114 - NYNJ Trail Conference
Gonzaga Park - Orange County Parks (page 5)

HIKE DISTANCE: 8.8 miles (total out and back)

THE HIKE:

Gonzaga Park is a former Jesuit retreat. There are several ruins on the property. We first headed to the far end of the parking lot ...

... and turned left on a woods road.

There was a huge American Goldfinch flock along the way.

This is the trashiest, most littered park I have ever been in. After picking your way through the garbage, broken glass and litter, views at the top.

I wanted to explore more of the park trails but at this point I just wanted get to out of there before Brodie slashed his paw pads on broken glass.

At the far end of the ball field, a chapel, amazingly not adorned with graffiti like the rest of the old buildings.

On Seven Springs Road which is gated to vehicular traffic.

A short distance in, we turned left on the gravel path opposite from where the Long Path/Highlands Trail continue to the right. At the end of the hike we would be coming in from straight ahead on Seven Springs Road.

For now, the bulk of the hike is on the yellow-blazed Jessup Trail/Long Path/Highlands Trail.

It's mostly old woods road with the longest stretch of ascent early on.

An old white-blazed trail to the left but there was no distinguishable trail. At the time I could not see the continuation of this white trail to the right but it is visible on the return route and that part follows a woods road.

Some short side trips to the left for ...

... views.

It looked more like the end of September than the end of August up on the ridge with all of the early foliage colors.

The Gunks with the Catskills behind them. I was hoping the views would be more clear on the return route. It was supposed to have been a day of full sunshine but it did not turn out that way.

Leaving Gonzaga Park shortly after this bench, the litter is left behind. The woods road also becomes grassier as it seems the illegal ATV and dirt bikes usage doesn't go out this far. It is really sad how trashed this park is.

It's a lot of shorter ups and downs all along the ridge.

A steep, rocky descent ...

... then a steep, rocky ascent.

This is about all that is left of the blueberries.

Communications Tower

Entering Schunemunk Mountain State Park.

Just before this short scramble the Long Path leaves to the right, The Highlands Trail continues straight up the scramble and an orange trail starts to the left. This was our turn around point.

Because there were people at the top of the scramble with an off leash dog I tied Brodie off trail and scramble up myself to see if there was a view. This was it but the views were much better along the hike.

Heading back.

There were some giant ant hill along the way.

A couple of the residents.

Taking a break.

While sitting at the overlook in crazy whipping wind, a red-tailed hawk was hovering looking for lunch. It was amazing how he hovered in place in that wind where I could barely hang onto the camera with the lens extended.

Zooming in to the tower at Mohonk Mountain House across the way with the Catskills in the distance.

I don't think he was having much luck finding lunch.

Still at it.

Now I could see the white trail heading south where I had seen the part heading north at the beginning of the hike.

Since this was a woods road and I could see on the map where it ran into Seven Springs Road, that's the way we went.

Right on Seven Springs Road.

Back at that point from the beginning of the hike where the Long Path/Highlands Trail leave the yellow Jessup Trail. Problem was there was no trail to be seen and it was terribly overgrown from the road. I backtracked a little and found a way in then worked my way back over to the trail.

Passing by an old spring house.

Shortly after the spring house behind a stone wall on the right ...

... is an old cemetery but the only writing visible was on this marker.

At the far end are two newer graves from the 1960's.

The Long Path/Highlands Trail continue across the street at the Gonzaga Park entrance. We turned right on the entrance road to the park.

The gates are closed in the winter when the park is closed but presumably you can park outside the gates to access the Long Path, that is if there is no garbage taking up the parking spots.